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Van Exel Gets Pushy In Defeat

Associated Press

NBA

Dale Ellis scored 20 points and LaPhonso Ellis added 17 points and 13 rebounds Tuesday to lead Denver to a 98-91 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers suffered another blow late in the game when guard Nick Van Exel, after being ejected, threw a forearm that shoved referee Ronnie Garretson onto the scorer’s table.

The much-needed victory moved Denver within two games of Sacramento for the last Western Conference playoff spot.

The Nuggets, who have won five of their last seven, led by as many as 13 points and never trailed in the game. But the Lakers stayed close by holding Denver without a field goal for more than 7 minutes in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles pulled to 84-77 on Magic Johnson’s two free throws with 5:36 left, but Don MacLean hit a free throw and Dale Ellis made a short shot in the lane after two offensive rebounds to give Denver a 10-point lead.

The Lakers never got closer than seven points after that, and they lost their 3-point threat when Van Exel was ejected with 3:23 left in the game.

Vlade Divac finished with 19 points and Johnson added 14 off the bench to lead the Lakers.

Despite being outrebounded 27-9 in the first half, Los Angeles trailed just 59-53 heading into the third quarter. The Lakers made up for their poor rebounding effort by hitting 20 of 40 first-half shots, including 7 of 11 3-point shots.

Nuggets 98, Lakers 91

L.A. Lakers (91) - Ceballos 6-13 0-2 14, Campbell 6-14 2-2 14, Divac 8-15 3-4 19, Van Exel 3-7 2-2 10, Jones 0-1 2-4 2, Lynch 1-3 0-2 2, Johnson 3-13 6-8 14, Peeler 4-10 0-0 11, Threatt 2-7 0-0 5, Strong 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-83 15-24 91.

Denver (98) - L.Ellis 7-14 3-4 17, McDyess 4-10 2-2 10, Mutombo 6-14 1-2 13, Rose 2-5 4-5 8, Stith 3-13 6-7 12, Overton 0-1 0-0 0, D.Ellis 6-11 6-8 20, MacLean 5-18 2-5 12, Fish 2-2 0-0 4, Hammonds 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 36-92 24-33 98.

L.A. Lakers 19 34 17 21 - 91

Denver 27 32 19 20 - 98

3-Point goals-Los Angeles 10-22 (Peeler 3-5, Ceballos 2-4, Van Exel 2-4, Johnson 2-4, Threatt 1-4, Jones 0-1), Denver 2-5 (D.Ellis 2-2, Rose 0-1, Stith 0-1, MacLean 0-1). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Los Angeles 49 (Divac 9), Denver 75 (Mutombo 17). Assists-Los Angeles 20 (Divac, Van Exel, Threatt 4), Denver 19 (Rose 8). Total fouls-Los Angeles 24, Denver 22. Technicals-Van Exel 2, Los Angeles illegal defense 3. Ejection-Van Exel. A-17,171 (17,171).

Pistons 111, Nets 94

East Rutherford, N.J.

Detroit made a team-record 15 3-pointers in defeating New Jersey in a game in which Pistons coach Doug Collins missed the final quarter because of illness.

Detroit (111) - Hill 6-10 0-0 12, Thorpe 9-12 3-5 21, West 1-3 3-6 5, Houston 7-16 6-8 23, Dumars 4-4 0-0 12, Ratliff 0-1 0-0 0, Hunter 2-6 3-4 9, Mills 5-11 0-0 14, Curry 4-5 1-1 9, Reid 0-0 2-4 2, Roe 0-1 0-0 0, Leckner 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-70 18-28 111.

New Jersey (94) - Brown 2-7 2-2 6, Williams 1-11 0-0 2, Bradley 10-15 5-7 25, Graham 5-13 2-3 14, Childs 5-10 2-2 12, Gilliam 1-9 0-0 2, Fleming 4-8 1-2 10, Reeves 3-6 2-3 9, Mahorn 2-4 0-0 4, Werdann 4-5 2-4 10. Totals 37-88 16-23 94.

Detroit 28 29 33 21 - 111

New Jersey 24 22 18 30 - 94

3-Point goals-Detroit 15-23 (Dumars 4-4, Mills 4-5, Houston 3-8, Hunter 2-3, Curry 2-3), New Jersey 4-11 (Graham 2-4, Fleming 1-1, Reeves 1-3, Brown 0-1, Childs 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Detroit 54 (Hill 13), New Jersey 45 (Williams 8). Assists-Detroit 24 (Hill 9), New Jersey 23 (Childs 6). Total fouls-Detroit 24, New Jersey 22. Technicals-Detroit illegal defense 2, Childs. A-17,205 (20,029).

Knicks 97, Celtics 93

New York

Patrick Ewing had 26 points and 11 rebounds as New York beat Boston for the 14th consecutive time.

Boston (93) - Ellison 10-14 3-4 23, Fox 2-6 2-2 8, Lister 1-2 4-6 6, Minor 3-6 0-0 6, Wesley 7-12 1-3 15, E.Williams 3-8 4-6 10, Brown 2-8 2-2 6, Day 3-6 2-2 8, Barros 4-11 0-0 9, Burrough 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 36-74 18-25 93.

New York (97) - Oakley 0-2 0-0 0, Mason 7-12 7-8 21, Ewing 8-21 10-12 26, Starks 4-8 2-2 11, Harper 6-13 2-2 15, Reid 1-3 2-2 4, H.Williams 3-5 0-1 6, Davis 5-7 0-0 14, Ward 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-72 23-27 97.

Boston 27 28 21 17 - 93

New York 30 31 18 18 - 97

3-Point goals-Boston 3-12 (Fox 2-3, Barros 1-5, Wesley 0-1, Brown 0-1, Day 0-2), New York 6-11 (Davis 4-4, Starks 1-3, Harper 1-3, Ward 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Boston 47 (Ellison, Lister 10), New York 40 (Ewing 11). Assists-Boston 15 (Fox, Minor 4), New York 25 (Starks, Harper 8). Total fouls-Boston 22, New York 21. A-19,763 (19,763).

Raptors 102, Bucks 96

Milwaukee

Alvin Robertson scored 25 and Tracy Murray had 23, helping depleted Toronto end a three-game losing streak with a victory over Milwaukee.

Toronto suited up just nine players.

Toronto (102) - Miller 5-11 3-3 13, Murray 9-18 4-4 23, Earl 5-17 6-8 16, Christie 8-15 0-0 19, Robertson 10-19 4-8 25, O’Sullivan 0-3 0-0 0, King 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 40-87 17-23 102.

Milwaukee (96) - Baker 11-18 3-4 25, Robinson 9-23 2-2 20, Benjamin 1-3 0-0 2, Douglas 2-6 0-0 4, Newman 8-12 5-10 21, Cummings 5-14 0-0 10, Mayberry 1-7 0-0 2, Respert 3-3 4-4 12, Conlon 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 40-88 14-20 96.

Toronto 38 19 22 23 - 102

Milwaukee 22 25 30 19 - 96

3-Point goals-Toronto 5-10 (Christie 3-5, Robertson 1-2, Murray 1-3), Milwaukee 2-17 (Respert 2-2, Cummings 0-1, Newman 0-1, Baker 0-1, Douglas 0-2, Robinson 0-5, Mayberry 0-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Toronto 52 (Robertson 10), Milwaukee 55 (Baker 16). Assists-Toronto 24 (Christie, Robertson 6), Milwaukee 21 (Robinson, Douglas, Newman 4). Total fouls-Toronto 21, Milwaukee 21. Technical-Milwaukee coach Dunleavy. A-15,935 (18,633). Toronto (102) - Miller 5-11 3-3 13, Murray 9-18 4-4 23, Earl 5-17 6-8 16, Christie 8-15 0-0 19, Robertson 10-19 4-8 25, O’Sullivan 0-3 0-0 0, King 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 40-87 17-23 102.

Milwaukee (96) - Baker 11-18 3-4 25, Robinson 9-23 2-2 20, Benjamin 1-3 0-0 2, Douglas 2-6 0-0 4, Newman 8-12 5-10 21, Cummings 5-14 0-0 10, Mayberry 1-7 0-0 2, Respert 3-3 4-4 12, Conlon 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 40-88 14-20 96.

Toronto 38 19 22 23 - 102 Milwaukee 22 25 30 19 - 96 3-Point goals-Toronto 5-10 (Christie 3-5, Robertson 1-2, Murray 1-3), Milwaukee 2-17 (Respert 2-2, Cummings 0-1, Newman 0-1, Baker 0-1, Douglas 0-2, Robinson 0-5, Mayberry 0-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Toronto 52 (Robertson 10), Milwaukee 55 (Baker 16). Assists-Toronto 24 (Christie, Robertson 6), Milwaukee 21 (Robinson, Douglas, Newman 4). Total fouls-Toronto 21, Milwaukee 21. Technical-Milwaukee coach Dunleavy. A-15,935 (18,633).

Trail Blazers 98, Suns 91

Phoenix

Arvydas Sabonis helped Portland make the playoffs for the 14th straight season with several big plays down the stretch in the victory over Phoenix.

Sabonis had a three-point play with 1:17, and made two free throws and a crucial rebound down the stretch as the Trail Blazers extended the NBA’s current longest playoff streak.

Portland (98) - Grant 9-15 1-2 21, C.Robinson 8-18 5-6 24, Sabonis 6-15 6-6 19, McKie 1-6 0-0 3, Strickland 6-16 11-13 23, Dudley 0-0 0-0 0, J.Robinson 1-5 0-0 2, R.Robinson 2-6 0-0 4, B.Williams 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 34-83 23-27 98.

Phoenix (91) - Finley 4-12 1-2 9, Barkley 9-20 3-6 21, J.Williams 3-6 0-0 6, Person 2-10 0-0 5, Johnson 10-20 5-6 27, Tisdale 5-12 1-1 11, Green 3-6 0-0 6, Perry 1-4 0-0 2, Carr 0-0 2-2 2, Kleine 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 38-94 12-17 91.

Portland 27 18 28 25 - 98

Phoenix 22 18 26 25 - 91

3-Point goals-Portland 7-21 (C.Robinson 3-6, Grant 2-4, Sabonis 1-2, McKie 1-5, R.Robinson 0-1, Strickland 0-3), Phoenix 3-10 (Johnson 2-2, Person 1-6, Barkley 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Portland 49 (Sabonis 13), Phoenix 65 (J.Williams 13). Assists-Portland 24 (Strickland 10), Phoenix 26 (Johnson 13). Total fouls-Portland 17, Phoenix 22. Technicals-C.Robinson, Portland coach Carlesimo, Kleine. A-19,023 (19,023).

Kings 95, Mavericks 86

Sacramento, Calif.

Brian Grant scored 23 and Mitch Richmond had two 3-pointers in the closing minutes as Sacramento defeated Dallas.

The victory helps the Kings maintain a small cushion in the battle for the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot. Sacramento holds a 2-1/2 game lead over both Golden State and Denver.

With the Kings ahead 87-80, Richmond connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:51 of the game. He finished with 18 points.

The Mavericks’ George McCloud finished with a career-high 37 points. He made eight 3-pointers, an Arco Arena record. Dallas sank 12 of 26 3-pointers.

Sacramento, a winner in five of its last seven games, took the lead in the opening minute of the second quarter and never trailed again.

Dallas (86) - McCloud 14-24 1-1 37, Jones 3-5 1-2 9, Williams 0-2 0-4 0, Jackson 3-13 2-3 8, Kidd 3-14 0-0 6, Parks 0-1 2-2 2, Dumas 1-3 0-2 2, Wood 2-4 0-0 5, Harris 6-10 2-4 15, Meyer 1-3 0-0 2, Brooks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-79 8-18 86.

Sacramento (95) - Grant 12-18 1-1 25, Polynice 8-13 0-0 16, Causwell 1-6 0-0 2, Richmond 6-12 2-2 18, Edney 4-10 1-2 9, Marciulionis 3-6 2-2 8, Smith 2-2 0-2 4, Williamson 3-6 2-4 8, Simmons 2-4 1-2 5, Hurley 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 41-79 9-15 95.

Dallas 25 14 24 23 - 86

Sacramento 24 26 19 26 - 95

3-Point goals-Dallas 12-26 (McCloud 8-14, Jones 2-2, Wood 1-1, Harris 1-2, Dumas 0-1, Jackson 0-2, Kidd 0-4), Sacramento 4-11 (Richmond 4-7, Simmons 0-1, Marciulionis 0-1, Hurley 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Dallas 50 (Jones 11), Sacramento 50 (Polynice 10). Assists-Dallas 21 (Kidd 11), Sacramento 26 (Richmond, Edney 5). Total fouls- Dallas 19, Sacramento 17. Technical-Sacramento illegal defense. A-17,317 (17,317).